Acts 10:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Perhaps they say this as an apology for him, as though saying: do not condemn him at all, for he sent not out of disdain for you, but because he had been commanded to do so.

Have you seen the power of almsgiving, both from the previous discourse and from the present one? There it delivered from temporal death. Here it delivers from eternal death and opens the gates of heaven.

See how much was done so that Cornelius might believe. An angel was sent, the Spirit acted, the chief of the Apostles was called, such a vision was shown, and in general nothing was left undone.

How many centurions, commanders, and kings there were, yet none of them was deemed worthy of what he received.

Listen, all you who belong to the army and stand before kings. He was "pious," says the writer, and "one who feared God." What is still greater, he was so "with all his house."

He was so devoted and well disposed to this that he not only guided himself well, but directed his household in the same way.

Not as we do, who do everything so that servants may fear us, but nothing so that they may be pious.

He was not so. He feared God with all his house, being like a common father not only to all who were with him, but also to the soldiers under his authority.

Listen to what else they say. It is not without purpose that they add: "well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews."

This was so that no one would say: what of it, if he was uncircumcised? Even they, it says, bear witness to him.

The Spirit of God foresaw doubt in the Apostle, but forestalled it. He commanded him not to doubt the rightness and God-pleasing character of the steps he was being called to take.

Therefore, when Peter then learned from questioning Cornelius's messengers that he was being called into the house of unclean Gentiles, he undoubtedly understood at once who those cleansed by God were.

He must no longer regard them as unclean, and he must go to them without any hesitation.

To quiet Peter's conscience, he was told that those seeking him had been sent by the Spirit of God.

From Cornelius's messengers he learns that Cornelius is indeed calling him by the command of an angel.

Thus no room for any doubt remained. The next day Peter set out for Caesarea with Cornelius's messengers and some Christians from Joppa.

He had to see that in Christ there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.

The messengers speak praises of Cornelius in order to persuade Peter that an angel had appeared to him.

Authority over the people was in the hands of a pious man, one who by his merits had proved worthy of this.

"In the words a virtuous man, a trait is indicated that characterizes Cornelius well as a commander in relation to his subordinates.

It is especially fitting on the lips of those sent by Cornelius, since they were subordinate to him."

The expression is noteworthy: the angel commanded that Peter be called to Cornelius to hear your words. Here the purpose for which Peter is called is clearly indicated.

At the same time, the character and the subject of these words are left unmentioned. It is assumed that the Holy Spirit would then give him what to say or how to answer.

After all this, of course, every perplexity and doubt in Peter came to an end. He received the messengers kindly.